In a manuscript appearing online today in Tetrahedron, John, Van, and Miranda report a new method to effect intermolecular N-alkylation of 2-pyridones using an alkene as the alkylating reagent. The reaction employs a directed nucleopalladation/protodepalladation strategy and functions with a range of 2-pyridones and related aza-heterocycles. Special congratulations to our undergraduate co-author, Miranda, who also just completed her undergraduate degree at UCSD! The manuscript is part of a special issue celebrating Prof. Ang Li’s 2017 Tetrahedron Young Investigator Award. Click here for a link to the manuscript. Way to go, team!

(not pictured: Miranda)